L.Opdyke French Aeroplanes Before the Great War (Schiffer)

Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing

Goupy

Goupy started with 2 triplanes, and then moved on to a very successful series of biplanes. The system of lettering/numbering may have been clear and complete at the time, but much of it has since become mysterious or downright missing.

Type 1: Goupy's 2 triplanes were built by Voisin, perhaps using one of their standard fuselages, a long arched box framework. The tail was a box structure with double vertical and horizontal surfaces with a third tailplane set in between. The lower wing was set against the lower longeron, the middle wing against the upper, and the top wing supported by 4 light vertical struts. The first version showed side-curtains between the 2 middle pairs of struts, and a rectangular rudder set behind the tail. The second, Ibis, showed side-curtains a la Voisin outboard, half-curtains inboard. A third version had these taken off, and a rudder added between the aft end of the fuselage and the upper stabilizer.

(Span: 7 m; weight: 650 kg; 50 hp Antoinette)

Voisin

Goupy No 1 triplane: In May 1908, the first of the 2 1908 Voisin triplanes, described under Goupy. It was powered with a 50 hp Antoinette.

De Caters No 1 triplane: In October 1908, this was the second Voisin triplane, based on Goupy's but improved.

THE GOUPY TRIPLANE. - General view of the Goupy triplane from the rear, showing the longitudinal girder which carries the engine in front and the box-kite tail behind. The propeller is right in front, and the pilot sits behind the engine. The tail contains a rudder, and has small steering tips outside the curtains. The span of the main planes is 7 metres, their surface 60 square metres. The weight of the whole machine is 650 kilogs., and the engine is a 50-h.p. Antoinette.